After receiving a call from police that a warrant had been issued for his arrest, Benson was booked into the Travis County jail and was released after posting $5,000 bond.

If found guilty, he could face up to $4,000 in fines and up to a year in jail.

Bengals assistant public relations director P.J. Combs said the team is aware of the incident. “However, as with most situations of this nature, it would be inappropriate for the team to comment until the matter is resolved through normal legal channels,” Combs said.

Through his attorney, David Cornwell, Benson said that upon his release he contacted Bengals coach Marvin Lewis and the NFL commissioner Roger Goodell’s office about what took place and would cooperate with all parties during the investigation.

Benson is subject to disciplinary action under the NFL’s personal conduct policy even if he is found not guilty. In 2008 while with the Chicago Bears, Benson was arrested twice over a one-month span on alcohol charges that eventually were dropped.

NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said the league is looking into the matter.

According to Benson’s arrest affidavit, a fight erupted between Benson and an unknown suspect at Annie’s West bar just before 2 a.m. May 30. The two were separated, and Benson allegedly shoved bar manager Brett Vance. Bartender Bryan White got involved, and Benson allegedly spit blood from his injured lip at the bartender.

Employees told authorities that they repeatedly asked Benson to leave, and when he refused they physically escorted him from the establishment and blocked him from re-entering. When a passerby asked what happened, Benson allegedly replied: “All these white boys are ganging up on me and kicking me out.”

Then, according to White and co-worker Evan Guerra as outlined in the affidavit, Benson punched White on the right side of his face.

The two were separated and Austin police arrived, collecting statements and video evidence from the bar. The Austin Police Department has not released a copy of the surveillance because it is part of an ongoing investigation.

Through Cornwell, Benson said that he was asked to pose for pictures at the bar with some female fans and a man approached him and objected. Benson said he was punched by the man and an altercation followed. Benson said that as he left the club, he was approached aggressively by another man whom he believed was a friend of the one who had punched him, so he attempted to protect himself, continued out of the club, called the police, was interviewed and left.

While in Cincinnati for minicamp two weeks ago, Benson was contacted by a detective investigating the incident and was informed that the second man who had approached him was an employee and had claimed Benson had punched him.

Benson said he agreed to be interviewed by police upon his return to Austin and gave a date for when he would be back in town but had not been contacted until Tuesday’s events.

Austin police say Benson did not show up for a scheduled meeting last week.

Cornwell said he doesn’t anticipate any further statements on the matter.

The allegations could not come at a worse time for Benson, who is in the final season of a two-year contract with the Bengals and could earn as much as $4 million this season. The two sides have been in talks about a possible three-year extension under which Benson could earn $16 million to $20 million.

Benson, who until now had had no problems since signing with the Bengals four games into the 2008 season, has said he would like to remain with the team. Last season, he led the Bengals in rushing with a career-high 1,251 yards and set a team single-season record with seven games of 100 yards or more. In 24 career games with Cincinnati, Benson has totaled 2,167 yards and nine touchdowns rushing.

When asked recently about getting a new contract, Benson said: “That would be a great thing. In this business everyone wants to get the big one, the big check. We don’t work to not get paid, so that would be a blessing and that would be great. I would be grateful for something like that to present itself. I’d love for that to happen, but if it don’t it will one day.”

Cedric Benson’s arrest is the third involving a Bengals player this offseason. In January, Rey Maualuga was charged with DUI in Covington and in May Maurice Purify was charged with disorderly conduct in Newport.

According to a San Diego Union-Tribune database of arrests involving NFL players since 2000, the Bengals have a league-leading 32, with 21 since 2005 and 10 since 2007.